Lifeboat Foundation

Rooftop solar, Covid and more large scale renewables push Australia’s main grid to record low levels of demand and emissions intensity, and the lowest prices in years.

The combined impact of growing rooftop solar and the Covid-19 pandemic – along with the continued influx of large scale wind and solar – has create a suite of new records in Australia’s electricity grids in the September quarter, sending demand, emissions and prices to new lows.

The latest Quarterly Energy Dynamics for the September quarter, compiled by the Australian Energy Market Operator, also noted record highs for wind and solar output, which along with falling gas prices and cut-price bidding by coal generators trying to stay competitive led to the lowest wholesale prices in more than five years, and in some cases, record low prices.

Continue reading “Solar and Covid lead change as grid demand, prices and emissions tumble to record lows” »

Australia seems to be leading the way in terms of wind power as well. 😃

It was a big week for South Australia last week. First, as we wrote at the time, the state reached 100 per cent solar power (of state demand) for the first time on Sunday, October 11.

Then, just a few days later, the state reached 100 per cent wind power (of state demand), on Thursday, October 15.

Continue reading “Twin peaks: South Australia reaches 100 pct solar, and then 100 pct wind power in same week” »

“They always have the advantage of having information that we don’t have access to.” Now that will change.

University of Rochester researcher receives $1 million grant to study quantum thermodynamics.

It’s still more science fiction than science fact, but perfect energy efficiency may be one step closer due to new research at the University of Rochester.

Continue reading “Perfect Energy Efficiency: Quantum Engines With Entanglement as Fuel?” »

The third-order term Fpot(ρ)[ρq] Fpot(ρ)[ρq] above corresponds to the third-order energy in the structural expansion for electron systems. This energy plays an important role in the structural stability of metallic hydrogen ¹⁶ (Z= 1). This is because the kernel (10) has a strong wave-vector dependence, which cannot properly be treated in the square-gradient type theory. This brings a special stability of the structure in which as many equilateral triangles with q=3kF appear in the reciprocal lattice. It requires an anisotropic structure or a periodic modulation of the lattice for an atomic phase of hydrogen. Another possibility is to form a crystal with two ions in a unit cell (molecular phase). In any case, the atomic phase of bcc structure would not be realized just under the melting line as log as the third order term in F_c[ρ_q] does not suppress the effect. We shall investigate this problem numerically in the near future.

A NIAC grant from NASA has allowed us to bring you this video describing the technology.

Scientists in China have created a nanogenerator that can generate wind energy created by a person on a brisk walk.

Audrey Zibelman says “facts and reality” are focus of AEMO, which is leading creation of new global partnership pushing “rapid clean energy transition of unprecedented scope.”

Circa 2014

A team of scientists is building underwater turbines to capture energy from ocean currents.